Hi everyone,

Well it's the end of a very busy week for me, and finally I feel as though I can just sit back and have a bit of a relax. We are having some beautiful spring days at the moment, and it really is lovely here.

I wonder how many of you are planning to go to the Waltons reunion? It sounds as if things are going along really well and that lots of people have already registered. I do wish that I could be there too, for the reunion. Distance is a real curse at times! Maybe some day.

Well I might get onto this week's letters. There are quite a few this week, especially regarding the out of sequence Waltons being shown in the UK. Enjoy this week's digest. Until next time,

Goodnight everyone, Karen.

Just wanted to let you know that things are pretty crazy in Central New York. We had a very bad storm the wee hours of Labor Day. At about 1am a microburst (I still think it was a tornado) hit our region. We only had a few large branches down at our house... but my church (Port Byron Federated) was destroyed. The steeple/clock tower blew into the church and their is no hope of rebuilding. Anyway, we will be renting a church that recently closed its doors. My wedding is October 10th and I had hoped to have it in my church...but it was just a building and the people are actually the church. We had our service today in the basement of a member's home. It is interesting how God took his own house and spared those around it!

If you really want to check out the devastation go to www.syracuse.com and look under local news, pictures of storm damage.

I have been looking for my video I taped of The Best Christmas. It reminds me of our community and how everyone is pulling together to clean up after this horrible storm.

Please pray for the people in our region. Some homes are worse than others.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm not sure who sent in but the storm does sound like a pretty bad one. Such a shame that your church where you had hoped to be married was destroyed, but things could have been much worse and I'm sure the ceremony will be just as memorable in the other church. As you said, it's the people who are important. I have never heard of a microburst. Is it something common? Do we just not get that sort of storm down here? Intriguing. Anyway on be thinking of you on the 10th. Not long to go now. :-))

In response to Larissa's nervous thoughts about having a child and bringing him up "right", although the Waltons television show is an ideal family situation to which we all aspire, we know with great sadness that it is not reality and times have changed (too much!) in 50+ years since that setting.

The basics, however, never change and in my opinion, that includes: first and foremost loving them (even when liking is hard to do), putting the children's needs first (even if that means talking until midnight and not being up to par at work the next day), and having a religious foundation that you start him out and share with from before he can walk. The anchors of love and family are multiplied in a house of worship, and in these days where grandparents are thousands of miles away, the other members become your extended family. Read everything, but trust your instincts! And know that God never gives us more than we can handle!

Larissa, congratulations, and be calm in your own maturity that will come motherhood!

Take Care and "Good Night, Larissa!"

Norma

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well said Norma.

Hi Fellow Walton Fans!

I am going to try to start contributing to this digest because I enjoy it so much and know lots about the Waltons since I watched the show as a teen when it first aired and then got re-acquainted with it a few years ago when I stayed home to run an in-home Day Care while my youngest was in pre-school (she is in first grade now).

Last year, my wonderful husband of 17 years insisted we go to the 25th reunion in Schyuler, VA even though funds were tight as I was job hunting. What a treat! Now I am working full time, beginning a Brownie troop, a Sunday School teacher, active in church, and keeping my head about me as my oldest daughter is about to turn 13. It is my goal to have my own web page soon and I will certainly link it to the Walton's Web Ring as I have pictures from the VA Reunion, 1997. I also was able to meet Michael Learned when I was about 18 at a rodeo and have a picture of that to add. (She has the most incredible blue eyes!)

Last but not least, I am card-carrying member of the Walton's International Fan Club and have met Carolyn Grinnell a few times!

My favorite episode from Season 3 is "The Conflict." My kids still tease me to this day that I cry EVERYTIME John-Boy gets shot and Grandpa goes running down the hill crying, "Johnny, Johnny!" -- the only time John-Boy is ever called that in the whole series, to my recollection. It is heart-wrenching! Next favorite from Season 3 is "The Venture" when the neighbors chip in to help John in his time of need--that is what I like to think people were really like back then.

Hope I didn't take up too much room, but Karen was not getting a lot of responses this week, so I took the opportunity to introduce myself. If you want to email me, please do, but put in the subject area something referring to The Waltons or I might delete it since I do not accept mail from strangers: fellow Walton-lovers, you are not strangers to me!

Good Night from Atlanta, GA!

Norma

KAREN'S COMMENT: Interesting you should mention blue eyes Norma. Have you noticed the number of actors on TV with the most beautiful blue eyes. Melissa Sue Anderson of Little House on the Prairie fame is another with gorgeous eyes.

Hi Karen,

For some reason, I didn't receive the post asking about season 3 favorites. I liked The Book, Where John Boy believes he is to be published and ends up paying for the books himself and Jason gets his first real job with Bobby Bigalow and the Haystack Gang. The second best could be The Choice, where Jason has to tell his father that he does not want to work in the mill full time, that he wants to go to the university to study to become a musician.

Sorry to hear that you were so sick. Miserable stuff. I hate being sick, but how funny that your family noticed the quietness...(lol).(means laughing out loud). Let me know when you will be wanting the 4 season favorites...Didn't see it in the digest today.

Larissa and Rob, congratulations on the upcoming birth of your son. How exciting! My little boy just turned 2 years old. My advice would be to hold him as much as you can, they say you cannot spoil children by holding them too much. (some would say otherwise) but it will come too soon when your child tells you not to hold him anymore. Keep the path of communication open. (always) Spend time together. We always had suppertime together and asked how everyone's day was and listened and offered advice, etc...(We have a 13 year old girl, too) You'd be surprised how young the children are when they ask you "How was your day?". My son has started to tell people "Bless you", when they sneeze. Just by following our example. You'd be surprised how quick children are to pick up things by watching and listening.

Allysen

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's also amazing how you notice the quiet around the house when just one person is missing. Tim has been very busy with study and work during the past couple of weeks and the house has been incredibly quiet. I can imagine how Elizabeth must have felt when nobody was coming home for Thanksgiving that time.

I did not know until the end of the week that there was yet another episode from the third season that was excellent and that was the System.

Tom Povich, a Boatwright football star, is asked to spend the weekend before his world history final studying at John Boys home. When John Boy introduces Tom to the family, Tom says he is from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania (Tony Dorsett's home town). Later however, when both John Boy and Tom were observed with their eyes wandering during the examination, and Tom is threatened with expulsion for violating the honors code, John Boy, who has agreed to defend Tom at the hearing, says that Tom is from Bridgetown, Pennsylvania.

I put this in the forum as well as in Marca's column on errors and mistakes.

Hope to send you more later from a cooler and wetter Dallas!

Donald F Nelson

KAREN'S COMMENT: There certainly were some wonderful episodes in the early seasons of The Waltons.

Hi Karen,

There's been a bit of a mix-up in the order of showing here in the UK and a few have asked me about it, so here's what I think happened.

Season 5 Episode 18 The Hero was shown, but the next in the series, S5/19 The Inferno should have been shown the weekend of the Armagh bombing in Northern Ireland, and I think Channel 4 felt that this episode, since it deals with the destruction by fire of the airship Hindenberg would be too sensitive at that time, so it was skipped over and The Heartbreaker (S5/20) was shown instead. Then for some inexplicable reason, the episode The Recluse which is the third in Season 6 was shown the following week. After that, C4 reverted to Season 5 but has missed out The Inferno, which looks like being missed this time round. And as, with over 200 episodes scheduled at weekly intervals, it takes about 5 years to show the series, I doubt that The Inferno will get another UK airing for a long time. Funny things happen, don't they!

Arthur D

www.surflink.co.uk/users/arthurdungate/index.htm

KAREN'S COMMENT: You may be right here Arthur. Funny things do happen at television stations. I don't think they realise just how disrupting it can be to the fans who watch the show. I've said it before that out here, the network which has the rights to both the Landon shows, Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven are renowned for airing them out of order. It's very annoying. I'm sure they think we don't notice. :-))

Hiya,

This is for Alison who wrote about the confusing order of the Walton's episodes recently. yes, the order was completely wrong. I suspect that the episode which should have been shown, the one with the Hindenburg (can't remember the title now) may have been pulled because of the bomb in Omagh the day before out of sensitivity. I had hoped it would have been shown later, but at the moment things are running in order again, the great episode with Jean Marsh as the Baldwin's cousin from Vienna.

Unfortunately, I've taped over the Heartbreaker, but it was very good. It's nice to hear from other UK fans. Unfortunately, we're reaching the end of the episodes with John Boy as played by Richard Thomas featuring regularly. Does anyone know if there were suggestions to actually finish the series when he left as the last episode he's in-when he heads off to NY, almost has the feel of an conclusion to the series.

Cheers,

Kester

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's a possibility Kester.

Hi Karen,

My favorite episode from the third season would have to be "The Venture" It really made me feel good to see how neighbors work together to help one that is in need. Thanks again for doing such a terrific job with this digest. I really look forward to getting it.

Mylinda

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you're enjoying it Mylinda. It really is people like you who continue to contribute though, who make it all possible. So thanks to all people who have contributed at some time to the digest. Please keep the letters coming.

Hi Karen

Hope all is well with every one. It's been a couple of weeks since I have written so I'm not sure what season we are in. So i am going to name a couple that I like from season 3. I like The Ring when Mary Ellen kept the ring she found. I like that she was able to go to her parents and tell them the truth, and even though they were put out with her. She knew they still loved her. That's the way it was in my house. The Nest, one from season 4 and I liked The Competition where Mary Ellen and Erin were in love with same guy. I got a kick out the way Erin went after him and threw the water on him. The best part was Mary Ellen and Erin made up...... well I got to go for now ..... good night from THOMASTON ME.

NANCY

KAREN'S COMMENT: You've mentioned one of my favourites here Nancy...The Competition. The girls really did get a bit silly over him though didn't they? I can't imagine throwing water over someone I had a crush on.

Hi Karen. I hope all is well with you. I have2 questions that maybe some one out there can answer. The night when Mary Ellen got married, she used a verse from the Old Testament. Can any one tell me where I can find it? The other question is on the show where John Boy goes the bank about his bank loan. Who was man who played the part of the banker.?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH NANCY

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well there's something to think about during the week. Any ideas anyone?

KAREN, Do know the e- mail address to the Nashville station?

THANKS , NANCY

KAREN'S COMMENT: Nancy the site is at <http://www.country.com/> and you can send an email message by going to this page on their site: <http://www.country.com/cgi/emailer.cgi?category=WholeSite>